BOOMERS TO X’ERS INTERGENERATIONAL DISIPLESHIP

Deuteronomy 6:1-7 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Deuteronomy 6:1-7 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:1-7 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Age of Conversion

The current Barna study indicates that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday. One out of eight born again people (13%) made their profession of faith while 18 to 21 years old. Less than one out of every four born again Christians (23%) embraced Christ after their twenty-first birthday. Barna noted that these figures are consistent with similar studies it has conducted during the past twenty years.

 Percentages of people in America during different era's that believed the basic Bible truths and were born again. 65% WW II Generation 35% Baby Boomer Generation 16% Generation X If nothing changes in America when this generation of children becomes adults only 4% will be Bible believing, born again Christians

 The U.S. Census estimates that in 2009 children from 6 to 13 were about 20 million strong and are projected to hit almost 23 million by 2020  Of the 7 billion people on the earth today, 30% are under the age of 14.  In the United States, 1/4of the population is under age 18

 40 million children in the United States have never been to church.  2 out of 3 children in the United States do not know JESUS.

The need for intergenerational discipleship has never been greater.

“According to a 2005 LifeWay Christian Resources survey that [ranked the] ‘top 10 issues facing today’s Church,’ prayer in both personal and church life was the number one issue, followed by discipleship, or ‘the need for involvement of every believer in being continually transformed into the image of Christ.” Rebecca Barnes, editor of Church CentralChurch Central

God has ordained only two institutions to train children. 1. Parents are instructed to train children thoroughly at home (Proverbs 22:6,8; 13:24; 19:18; 20:30; 23:13-14; 29:15,17; Ephesians 6:4). 2. The Church has a commission to train all, including children (Matthew 28:20)

1. Parents have abdicated their responsibility in handing down their faith to their children. a)They are hiring professionals to lead their children spiritually. a)They are more intentional about training their children in other areas of life.

The issue is not whether anyone or anything is discipling us, but who or what is discipling us. Nor is the question, “Should I have a disciple?” The fact is, we are influencing – and thus discipling—others. The real issue is how are we discipling them. Hal Perkins, Walk With Me, pg. 14

2. Parents themselves have not been adequately discipled.

“Great ideals and principles do not live from generation to generation just because they are right, nor even because they have been carefully legislated. Ideals and principles continue form generation to generation only when they are built into the hearts of children as they grow up.” George S. Benson

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs. 22:6 Train means: To narrow or restrict.

HINDRANCES TO BEING A DISCIPLE MAKING CHURCH A casual view of scripture. Institutionalized Ministry – ministry by professionals Being program driven – the tail wagging the dog)

HINDRANCES TO BEING A DISCIPLE MAKING CHURCH Maintenance mindsets versus Missional mindsets Valuing congregations over community Confusing church growth with discipleship

HINDRANCES TO BEING A DISCIPLE MAKING CHURCH What is it about the word “go” you don’t understand? INCARNATIONAL MINISTRY

ELEMENTS OF DISCIPLE MAKING

Interconnection: Acts 11:22-26 Loving your neighbor Building relationships Obeying Scripture Divine Appointments Evangelism Sharing life together Bearing burdens

Instruction: 2 Timothy 2:2 Teaching the Word Training in the Faith Edifying the believers

Imitation: 1 Corithians 11:1 Modeling the faith: mission trips, ministery, giving. Stretching ourselves to be more like Jesus Make disciple-makers

Modelingthe Faith Mission Trips Ministering Giving Benchmark outcomes Mentoring Intergenerational worship services

Imitation: 1 Corithians 11:1 Modeling the faith: mission trips, ministery, giving. Stretching ourselves to be more like Jesus Make disciple-makers

“It is commonplace how easily a child of 3 or 4 picks up a foreign language if exposed to it, without any formal teaching. Yet we are unwilling to admit that a child of the same age picks up our unconscious attitudes and prejudices without being taught – and often retains these longer than any of his/her formal education. Sidney J. Harris